Rice Cleared Due To Possible Asbestos Contamination -- MesoLink.org -- 01-12-06

Seventeen thousand tons of rice have been cleared for consumption by humans after being clouded with fears that it may have become contaminated with asbestos, thus rendering it dangerous for human consumption. The rice was aboard a ship called Orbit, which was impounded on Wednesday at Maputo Port, Mozambique, as it docked. The rice was being brought in from Pakistan to be distributed in Beira and Maputo.

The ship was impounded after the authorities realized that it had recently been carrying asbestos from Zimbabwe. Port authorities then impounded the vessel and took some samples of the rice that were on board in order to carry out testing for asbestos contamination. However, after testing the rice samples, authorities confirmed that there was no presence of asbestos.

A Health Ministry spokesperson stated: "The tests from the rice samples revealed that the rice is not contaminated." The spokesperson also confirmed that, having carried asbestos aboard it in November, the Orbit had since been cleaned following the delivery of the potentially carcinogenic substance.

Authorities added that the vessel had been issued with a certificate that confirmed it had been cleaned following the asbestos transportation.